Debutant Patterson eyeing successful 3x3 tourney with Jamaica
Published:Tuesday | September 26, 2023 | 12:07 AM
AHEAD of his highly anticipated debut for Team Jamaica, Marcus Patterson is buzzing with excitement at not only what he can produce for the Rick Turner-coached team, but the talent that members of the Jamaican team are eager to showcase to the world.
Patterson, along with the Jamaican team, is fine-tuning preparations ahead of the 3x3 International Cup, which is set to be hosted at Golden 1 Centre in Sacramento starting on October 1.
Patterson stated that to be able to represent Jamaica is a lifelong goal and the excitement is almost fever pitch. He added that he was more than eager to take the court and display his skill set.
“I feel great to be able to represent the island, and I’m ready to compete. I’ve always wanted to play at this level, and I’m excited to go out there and represent Jamaica. It’s surreal. I’ve always dreamt of this, and I’ve been talking to Coach Turner a lot, and I’ve spoken to my parents, and everyone is just excited. This is a different feeling,” he shared.
A 25-year-old shooting guard, Patterson currently plies his trade in Albania for BC Teuta Durres. He shared that it is of great importance that the Jamaican team go to the upcoming tournament and represent themselves well.
“It’s extremely important because we get to play at the highest stage, and Jamaican basketball is growing. We want our people to know that we’re improving year by year, so it’s important that we come out and represent the country well,” Patterson stated.
Having played 5x5 basketball for the majority of his career, Patterson believes that there’s a slight difference in preparing for a 3x3 game. Patterson shared that physically, players will need to be fitter as the game is of a much faster tempo.
“You have to be in good physical shape as the game is a lot faster. I would say it’s even more physical because there’s a lot more bumping playing in the half court, so you have to be locked in as every possession counts. In 5x5, you can afford to take a play off here and there, but you can’t do that in 3x3,” he added.
John Rinehart, president of basketball operations at the Sacramento Kings, said the tournament promises to be nothing short of excitement.
“The 3x3 International Cup showcases the excitement, electricity, and entertainment of 3x3 basketball, and we are proud to be hosting it again this year. We are excited to go to Sacramento, a must stop on the 3x3 tour displaying the competition and incredible skill of the games,” said Rinehart.